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Historic deal: The declaration from the year 2000 on the napkin
Photo: Sarah Yenesel / EPA
Between March 18th and 27th, fans of football icon Lionel Messi can bid for an unusual devotional: a historical scrap of paper - a written agreement between Messi and representatives of the FC Barcelona club on a napkin - will then be auctioned off.
The napkin, legendary among football fans, was created at a meeting between then Barca sporting director Carles Rexach and advisors Josep Minguella and Horacio Gaggioli on December 14, 2000. At a tennis club in Barcelona, Rexach wrote that he agreed, "regardless of any differing opinions, the player "To sign Lionel Messi, provided we stick to the agreed amounts."
For Messi, the agreement marked the start of a world career.
Gaggioli kept the piece of paper for over 23 years.
Now the auction house Bonhams is to auction the document.
Officially, a bid of up to 635,000 US dollars (around 585,000 euros) is expected for the letter.
The document will initially be issued in New York from March 18th and then in Paris and London.
The head of the New York auction house Bonhams, Ian Ehling, expects it "to sell for much more."
Last December, a collection of six Messi jerseys from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was sold, bringing in $7.8 million (€7.18 million).
The unofficial napkin contract was followed by Messi's acceptance into La Masia, FC Barcelona's renowned youth academy.
On October 16, 2004, Messi made his professional debut for Barca, which was followed by numerous titles with the club and the national team as well as a record eight awards as a world footballer.
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